The Prevention Council at CCI hosted its first Community Baby Shower for Androscoggin County on Friday, July 22 at The Colisee in Lewiston. This free community event supported more than 90 new and expecting parents and their babies, as well as promoted Safe Sleep for infants and children.
“We had grandmas attending with their 12-day-old grandbabies, supporting their own daughters or sons…to a mother of 6 and due the day prior to our event and still there,” shared Cassandra Wallace, Community Coordinator for CCI’s Androscoggin Prevention Council.
Participants had the option to attend one of two sessions and received a Welcome-Baby Bag upon arrival filled with essentials for both parents/caregivers and babies. Each session began with an informational talk on Safe Sleep, followed by the opportunity to “shop” through items such as baby clothing, diapers, wipes, and bibs, raffles for big-ticket items such as pack-n-plays, strollers, and car seats, and the opportunity to connect with local organizations and agencies supporting families in our community.
“I heard some really heartfelt stories about what they (new parents) needed, what they were able to get that was very helpful to them,” shared Susan Denoncour, Director of Family Services at CCI. “Moms came together as friends and sisters, supporting each other, and they were just very excited.”
This event was made possible with the help of many community partners and donors. Please see the full list of community partners listed below. The Community Baby Shower was generously funded by the P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.
“It was such an honor to provide the support and the opportunity to connect for the community and vendors, and such a special connection,” said Wallace. “We’re just very grateful and thankful for the chance to be able to do it.”
The Prevention Council would also like to share a special thanks to The Colisee for for hosting, their partnership and donated contribution for the rental fee.
Thank you to all who supported our Community Baby Shower for Androscoggin County!
Safe Voices
Sweetser
Community Clinical Services and B-Street
WIC
Promise
Maine Families
YMCA
Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
Lewiston Public Library
The Store Next Door
Goodwill- Take 2
Lewiston Career Center
FAME
Alfond
Lewiston CareerCenter
CMMC
Androscoggin Home Healthcare & Hospice
Lewiston-Auburn Kiwanis Club
Pathways
Midcoast Consignment Sale
SHARECenter
Trinity Jubilee
TJ Maxx
Union Street Bakery
And many individual donors, supporters, and volunteers!